Health, Safety and Workshop Practice
The Health, Safety and Workshop Practice domain tests risk control in a sheet metal shop: machine guarding, safe isolation, hand-tool use, noise and vibration, hazardous substances, manual handling and emergency response.
Core controls
- Risk assessment: identify the hazard, decide who may be harmed, rate likelihood × severity, apply controls, record and review.
- Follow the hierarchy: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrate, then PPE as a last resort.
- Guards and interlocks must not be bypassed; isolate and lock off before blade changes or clearing jams.
- LEV controls welding fume and grinding dust; COSHH applies to solvents, sealants and coatings.
- Irish law: the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the 2007 General Application Regulations underpin these controls.
Noise and vibration
- Action levels are 80 and 85 dB(A) for daily exposure; hearing protection is mandatory above the upper level.
- HAVS: limit trigger time, use anti-vibration tools, and report tingling or numbness.
Worked example
A grinder exposes an operator to 88 dB(A) for 4 hours. With a 3 dB exchange rate, 88 dB(A) for 4 hours is equivalent to 85 dB(A) for 8 hours, already at the upper action level. Reduce exposure by scheduling, enclosure or LEV, and provide hearing protection.
Traps
- Relying on PPE instead of guarding.
- Reaching into a shear or folder without isolation.
- Using the wrong fire extinguisher on metal fires.
- Poor housekeeping causing slips and cuts.
- Ignoring vibration symptoms.